Over 150,000 people in Britain are employed in the automotive manufacturing industry. As a country, building cars is something we’ve done for decades and we’re really rather good at it. Finally, we can report that better news is coming, as Jaguar Land Rover has become one of the first manufacturers in the UK to open their factory doors and get the production line rolling again.
Up to 2,000 workers returned to their roles on Monday the 18th of May at JLRs Solihull plant, which is roughly 25% of the factories usual staff. The engine plant in Wolverhampton will follow suit in the coming weeks and the Halewood plant in the North West will reopen in June. The plan is to slowly re-introduce staff to their roles progressively to ensure the staff are protected in line with the Government Coronavirus guidelines.
The Jaguar Land Rover brand isn’t just re-imagining it’s back end workflow, there are huge changes coming at dealership level too and customers are now able to enjoy a quick, clean and contactless buying journey thanks to the launch of Jaguar’s new online and remote services which have been born as a reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic.
What does this mean, exactly?
Since May 2019, Jaguar Land Rover has been offering buyers the opportunity to use their online car configurator to design, spec and purchase their desired vehicle from their own web browser.
JLR initially trialled this technology with just 5% of users and it has gradually become available to 100% of users on the Jaguar and Land Rover UK websites. Since the pandemic forced closures of all showrooms, this online technology has become more valuable than ever and are continually being expanded to ‘offer buyers ultimate flexibility and convenience.’
The very first vehicle bought using this new online functionality was a £119,000 Range Rover and the data collected shows a higher proportion of buyers were female, which contradicts the data collected from physical showrooms across the country.
The concept is pretty simple, and it’s wonderfully executed. Customers go through choosing the engine, trim level and options they desire before being invited to purchase the vehicle. This is where they’ll be offered to pay cash or via the presented Personal Contract Purchase and Hire Purchase payment methods. Buyers will also be able to obtain a value for their current vehicle if they want to offer it as a part exchange.
Not buying brand new? That’s fine, JLR has thought of that. On the online tool, you can browse current stock available throughout the UK retailer network to find a model that suits you.
Better still, virtual showrooms have been created with video presentations allowing Jaguar Land Rover to showcase all their models to you and you can even book phone and video appointments to speak directly to specialist consultants. Talk about going above and beyond...
Rawdon Glover, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said: “Buying a new vehicle may not be the first thing on people’s minds, but for those customers who do want to have a conversation about a new or pre-owned Jaguar or Land Rover, we are here to help. We have been refining our online customer journey for a while and, thanks to the support of our retail partners, we can now provide a comprehensive, convenient and flexible service that is safe for our customers and our staff.”
So, what are you waiting for? If you’re in the market for a new or used Jaguar Land Rover vehicle then don’t waste any time. Launch an enquiry now and register your interest. They’ll have everything in place to ensure you can have your questions answered and you’ll be one step closer to your next car.